Furnace construction



Ag.23,193s. l L. H. H'OSBEIN 2,127,842 FL'JRNACE CONSTRUCTION ,Original Filed June l5, 1935 3 Sheecs-Shes'et 1 an N Aug. 23, 1938. L.. H. HosBElN 2,127,842

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION original Filed June i5, 1935 s sheets-sheet 2 www s@ ,QQ

Aug. 23, 1938. 1 H. HosBElN A 2,127,842

FUNACE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June l5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 meflii/i lo H/fobam ning wall is formed of refractory blocks or tiles Patented ug. 23, 1938 PATENT oEFl'cE l 2,127,842 FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Louis H. Hosbein, Glencoe, Ill., assignor to M. H. Detrick Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June 15,1935, Serial No. 26,766 Renewed December 8, 1937 13 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of furnace walls of the typewherein the heat-consupported on an external metallic framework.

A general object of the invention is the provision of such a wall constructionlwhich is particularly well adapted to resist disintegration of the refractories by slagging, spalling and plastic deformation, and which practically eliminates possibility of air or gas leakage through the joints between the refractories.

I Another object is the provision of such a. construction which admits of the use o'f refractory tiles of relatively small size, and provides for 5, the secure retention of the tiles against displacement from the wall, yet permits the assembling or erecting of the structure and the replacement of the tiles and the tile-supportingparts with facility.

Yet another object is the provision fof such a construction which lends itself to both air cooling of the lwall by circulation of` air along the outer surfaces of the wall tiles and insulation of the wall by application of heat-insulating material at the outer surfaces of the tiles.

A more particular object of the invention is `theprovision of a wall construction having the above specified characteristics and wherein the juxtaposed tiles are intermeshed with one another in such fashion that the joints between the tiles arevtortuous and the joints between y the tiles in respective courses are staggered rel-` ative to those in subjacent and superjacent courses.

Another object is the provision of a construc- `Ytion having the ,above specified characteristics and in which the tiles are assembled in independently supported sections arranged one above another, with provision for accommodation of vertical expansion of one section relative to another, tiles of uniform size and shape being employed throughout the sections, excepting at the expansion joints and the wall terminals.

Other and further objects of the invention will lbe pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon an understanding' of the. invention or its employment in use.

In the accompanying drawings, forming apart (Clr 72-101) the appended claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of furnace wall structure embodying the invention in one form; y

Fi 2 is a vertical sectional detail illustrating in side elevation one of the tile brackets employed in the construction shown in Fig. 1, and showing the relationship of some of the' wall tiles thereto;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a form of tile which may be employed in a Wall structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view of the same tile, showing the sideswhich are opposite to those shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of another form of furnace wall structure embodying the invention.

The nature of the invention can be most quickly ascertained from a consideration of the constructions shown in the drawings, which will now be described.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be understood that 4the reference numeral IIJ designates columns or upright members, preferably made of structural steel, which form the principal load-carrying members of the external metallic frame which carries the refractory wall. I'here is a number of these upright frame members ranged along the sides of the furnace and suitably supported in upright position and connected by such transverse frame members as may be necessary to form a self-sustaining frame structure. Transverse members Il are connected to andsupported by the upright members I0 at intervals one above another. 'I'hese transverse members preferably are formed of a metal which is well qualified to retain its strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures, e. g., cast iron. They are secured to the upright members I0 by bolts l2 which pass through spacing members I4. As-seen in Fig. 2, the transverse member I I has a top ledge Ila from which rises a top flange Hb, and at its bottom has an inwardly projecting ange llc.

The wall tiles I5 are of the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, being of generally rectangular form and of relatively small cross-sectional size, e. g., three inches by six inches. 'I'heir broader side faces are each provided with a series of projection's |50. interspaced by seats |517, a series of projections lic interspaced by seats I5d, and a series of short projections |5e interspaced by seats I5f, the projections on one side being opposite corresponding seats on the opposite side. Their narrower side faces are provided with a series of projections interspaced by seats I5h, the projections on one of said faces being opposite the seats on the other. l

At a suitable distance from their outer ends, the narrower side faces are grooved across as shown at M and N, to form shoulders |51 and I5k, said shoulders being of approximately the same width, but the groove N being substantially deeper than the groove M, so that the shoulder I5Ic is inset from its side of the tile, whereas the shoulder I 57' is approximately ush with its side of the tile.

For supporting the tiles on the transverse members II, I provide a plurality of tile. supports or brackets I8 of suitable heat-resistant metal, such as cast iron. The bracket I6 has a hook portion adapted to hook over the ilange IIb and rest upon the ledge IIa, a lug Ilib adapted to 4engage under the ilange II cfand a shoulder I'Bc adapted to abut the inner margin of the ilange I Ic. By this means the bracket is adapted to be supported in vertical position on the transverse member I I. At each 'side the bracket has a laterally projecting shelf |5d spaced at a distance from its lower end, and at its lower end it has laterally projecting lugs IBe. Above the shelf |6d the bracket has at its inner margin laterally projecting inner lugs |5f, and, toward its outer margin, laterally projecting outer lugs ISU. The horizontal distance between the inner lugs I6f and the outer lugs |69' is but slightly greater than the width of the tile shoulders |57 and I5k. The spacing of` the lugs I'e fromthe shelf I6d is somewhat greater than the width of the narrower side faces of the tile.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, the center-to-center horizontal spacing of the brackets I5 is approximately equal to the width of two of the tiles I5, and I provide the base tiles I'I which are of sumcient width to bridge the space between adjacent brackets. These tiles have l shoulders corresponding to the shoulders I 57' of the tiles I5, but said tiles I'I are considerably shorter than the tiles I5. The tiles I`| are slid down on the brackets until their shoulders rest on the shelves ld, said shoulders engaging betweenthe lowermost inner lugs |6f and outer lugs LIg. Thereby the tiles I1 are supported on the brackets and held against tilting. Thus a row of the base tiles II is supported at the bottom of each wall section.

'Ihe lowermost course of tiles I5 for the wail section is then placed on the base tiles I'I. Two tiles I5 are disposed between each two adjacent brackets, their shoulders |57' being toward the same side and the projections |50 and seats |5h of the juxtaposed tiles being intermeshed. 'I'he tiles I5 are slid down on the brackets I6 so that the shoulder |57' of one of said tiles engages between the lugs I6! and |60 of one of the brackets, and the shoulder |511: of the other of said tiles engages between said lugs of the adjacent bracket. I'he tiles I5 of the lower course are thus supported with portions projecting inwardly beyond thebase tiles I1.

The tiles which form the second course of the section are then similarly engaged with the brackets Il, but the tiles of this course are reversed or inverted with respect to the tiles of the lowermost course, in the sense that their shoulders |5k are disposed over the shoulders |57l of said lower tiles. Consequently, the joints between the tiles of the second course will be staggered or oil'set relative to the joints between the tilesJof the lowermost course, and the projections I5a, |5c and I5e, and seats I5b, |5d and I5f of the tiles in onev course will intermesh with those of tiles in the other course.

The wall section is then further built up by addition of further courses of tiles I5, the tiles in each course being reversed in position relative to those of the next lower course, in the sense above explained. Consequently, each tile in the wall section, with the exception of the terminal tiles at the top, bottom and sides of each section, will be intermeshed with two tiles in the subjacent course and two in the superjacent course, as well as with the two juxtaposed tiles in its own course. This provides a refractory wall in which all of the joints are tortuous and the vertically running joints are staggered.

It will be understood from the foregoing that each horizontal row of brackets supports a wall section made up of a plurality of superimposed courses of tiles, and that each section is supported on the metallic framework independently of the sections above and below it. It will be noted also that some of the tiles in a section have anchorage connection, by means of the lugs I6f, with the brackets which support them. Other tiles of such section have anchorage connection with the brackets which support the next superjacent section, e. g., the tiles in the course designated by the reference character R in Fig. 1 have anchorage connection with the ybrackets in the upper row, by engagement of their shoulders with the lower lugs I6e of said brackets. Tiles in some of the courses do not have anchorage connection directly with any of the brackets, but are retained against displacement from the wall by their intermeshing engagement with other tiles. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, suchtiles are those in the courses designated S and T.

At the top of each section is provided an expansion joint construction which accommodates its expansion upwardly relative to the superjacent section. A layer of compressible refractory material I8 is provided between the topmost course of tiles I5 and the superjacent base tiles 1, to seal the intervening space. On the portions of the topmost tiles I5, which project inwardly beyond the base tiles I l, is laid a course of short tiles I9. These have their faces formed with seats and projections corresponding with those of the tiles I5, so that they intermesh with one another and with the tiles I5 upon which they rest, and are thereby held against dislodgment from the wall, their outer ends being in contact with the base tiles II. The upper faces of the tiles I9 are spaced below the tiles I5 of the superjacent section by a distance such as to permit the tiles I! being lifted out of meshing engagement with the tiles upon which they rest, so as to permit said tiles I5 to be withdrawn inwardly from the wall. This space between the tiles I9 and the superjacent tiles I5 is lled with a layer of compressible refractory material 20. The construction provides a tortuous expansion joint which forms an eiective seal between the sections, yet permits expansion of the -lower section upwardly relative to the superjacent section, and permits tiles in any section to be removed and-replaced Without disturbing tiles in any other section. The short tiles I 9 maysbe of the same width as the tiles I5, or they may be of double that width, as illustrated by the tile Il' in F18. 1.

Ii it is desired to insulate the refractory wall, slabs 2i of insulating material may be arranged against the outer faces of the wall tiles, and the `space between the wall tiles and the transverse panels 24 and the wall refractories may be leftl l unobstructed, so that air may be circulated therein along the outer surfaces of the wall refractories and across the transverse members ii and the portions of the brackets i6 which are exposed in that space.

Replacements of tiles in any section may b made by picking out the joint material 20 over the affected portion of the section, breaking out one of the tiles I9, removing the other tiles iti by lifting them upwardly, then moving them laterally, and then withdrawing them inwardly, and then removing the subjacent tiles I5 individually by prying them upwardly and withdrawing them inwardly. New tiles may then be inserted in the affected locality as above de-r scribed, the lateral projections ibg of the last tile lil being chipped od so that it may be slid into place.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 5 is designed to aiord greater space between the wall reiractories and the supporting framework, so as to accommodate circulation of a .greater volume of air. In this construction the transverse members Ii may be made of. structural steel, the tile-supporting brackets 26 being designed to support the refractory wall at a greater distance from the transverse members In this construction the bracket 2B has an upper arm 26a which hooks onto one of the transverse members Il', and a bottom arm 2Gb which at its outer end abuts against the next lower transverse member H'. Each bracket has a shelf 26e which extends inwardly and laterally and which affords a supportfor the tiles i5 of the lowermost course of the wall section. the bracket also having laterally extending inner flanges 26d and outer ilanges 26e between which the shoulders of the tiles are engaged, to hold the tiles against tilting, as in the manner above described with reference to the 'lugs iSf and |69. A construction employing base tiles such as those designated l1 in Fig. 1 may also beemployed with brackets of this type, in which event the`shelves`l6nnay be terminated flush with the inner flanges iBd, instead of. being extended inwardly therefrom. Such a construction would also have an expansion joint construction employing short tiles such as those, designated I9 or l0' in Fig. 1. joint construction shown in Fig. 5 is provided by a layer of compressible refractory material 21 iilling the space between the topmo'st tiles l5 of one section and the bottommost tiles I6 of the superjacent section. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the brackets 2B in each row are arranged in staggered relationship to those in the subjacent and superjacent rows, and the tiles in one section do not have anchoring engagement with the brackets which support the superjacent section.

In the erecting of the refractory wall. the tiles preferably are dipped in or buttered with a thin slurry of iire clay, for the purpose 'of filling in voidsbetween the surfaces of the intermeshing tiles. This contributes to the tightness of the The expansion joints, and when the material is dried, it is retained against sifting out by the intermeshing projections and seats. It is to be understood that the intermeshing projections and seats of the tiles do not contact at all points, and that thereby slight adjustment of one tile relative to another may take place incident to expansion and contraction of the tiles upon heating and cooling, the fire clay jointing material being of friable character when dry such as to accommodate slight relative movements of the tiles.

It is further to be noted that when the tiles are assembledl in the wall as above described, the short marginal projections i5e of the tiles in one course interlock with those of tiles in the next' course, and that thereby the tiles in a course are retained against separating from each other to an extent such as to un-mesh their lateral projections i5g and seats lh. In Fig. ll such interlocking portions are indicated at I.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the construction provides a refractory wall in which the tiles are very securely and closely intermeshed with one another throughout the greater portion 'of the walls thickness, but that at-the same time against separating, so that even if an inner end portion of the tile should be fractured oi by thermal strains, the fire and slag cannot worki in behind it through a vertical joint. By virtue of the intermeshing of the tiles, they are held v against displacement from the wall, even though not anchored directly to the frame members. Consequently, it is necessary to anchor only certain of the tiles to the framework in order to maintain the entire wall in proper vertical position. 'I'his permits a considerable reduction in the amount of metal, as represented by the brackets i6, which it is necessary to imbed or pocket between the tiles. Accordingly, the brackets are not subjected to deterioration by heat, and conduction of heat through the brackets to the transverse members and columns is minimized. The wall is easily assembled and easily repaired, and the refractory portion is made up almost entirely of tiles of the same size and form, said tiles being of relatively small cross-sectional dimension, so that each exposes but a small area at the inside of the wall.

What I claim is:

1. In a furnace wall structure, the combination of a supporting frame, vertically spaced rows of horizontally spaced tile supports carried on said frame, refractory wall sections supported independently on said tile supports one above another, said sections being made up of horizontally running courses of refractory tiles arranged in pairs spanning the spaces between juxtaposed tile supports, the tiles in respective courses being intermeshed with the juxtaposed tiles in the same course and with the juxtaposed tiles in the subjacent and superjacent courses in the'section,

transversely of the wall, some only of the tiles having anchoring engagement with the tile sup ports, and a compressible filler of refractory material between adjacent wall sections and intermeshed with the lowermost tiles of one and the uppermost tiles of the other to form expansion joints between the sections.

2. A furnace wall structure as specified in claim 1 and wherein the joints between tiles in respective courses are offset laterally relative to those between tiles in the superjacent and 'subjacent courses.

3. A furnace wall structure comprising an upright supporting frame, horizontally spaced tile supports carried on said frame, horizontally running courses of refractory tiles supported on said tile supports and arranged in pairs spanning the spaces between juxtaposed tile supports, said tiles having their lateral faces formed with projections and seats and their upper and lower faces formed with projections and seats, said tiles being disposed with projections and seats of their lateral faces intermeshing with seats and projections of juxtaposed tiles in the same course and with projections and seats of their upper and lower faces intermeshing with seats and projections of tiles in superjacent and subjacent courses, and some of said tiles having lateral anchoring engagement with the tile supports, whereby the tiles are held against displacement inwardly from the frame.

4. A furnace wall structure as specified in claim 3 and wherein the joints between tiles in respective courses are offset relative to joints between tiles in superjacent and subjacent courses.

5. A furnace wall structure as specified in claim 3 and wherein projections and seats of respective tiles are intermeshed with seats and projections of two tiles in a superjacent course and with seats and projections of two tiles in a subjacent course.

6. A furnace wall structure as specified in claim 3 and wherein tiles in each course have their projections and seats intermeshed with seats and projections of a plurality of tiles in respective subjacent and superjacent courses in a manner Y to hold the tiles in respectivecourses against lateral movement such as to un-Imesh their lateral projections and seats.

7. In a furnace wall structure, the combination of a frame, tile supports carried on the frame and extending laterally therefrom in vertically spaced horizontal rows, wall sections supported on respective rows of tile supports, each oi said wall sections being made up of a plurality of superimposed courses of refractory tiles, the tiles `in respective courses having intermeshing engagement with the tiles in superjacent and subjacent courses whereby the tiles are held against inward displacement relative to one another, tiles in the lower courses of respective sections being anchored to their tile supports and tiles in an upper course of respective sections being anchored to tile supports which support the superjacent section.

8. In a furnace wall structure, the combination of a frame, wall sections supported independently on the frame one above another, respective wall sections being made up of a plurality of superimposed courses of refractory tiles, some of the tiles having anchorage connection withA the frame to hold them against displacement inwardly, tiles in the topmost course in a section having intermeshing engagement with those in the subjacent course and having their upper surfaces spaced below the superjacent tiles of the next higher section a distance such as to permit their. being lifted out of intermeshing engagement with their subjacent tiles, and a removable filler filling the space between the tiles of said topmost course and vthe tiles superjacent thereto.

9. In a furnace wall structure, an upright frame, -vertically spaced rows of horizontally spaced tile supports carried thereon, refractory tiles arranged in horizontal courses disposed one upon another and supported on said tile supports, means on said tile supports engaging outer end portions of some of said tiles to hold them against displacement inwardly, inner portions of said tiles being provided on each of their upper, lower and lateral faces with a plurality of transversely extending projections and seats, and the projections and seats of juxtaposed tiles being in intermeshing relationship.

lupon another and having shoulders engaged between the inner and outer lugs, the superimposed tiles being in intermeshing engagement by means of projections and seats formed on their contiguous sides.

12. In a furnace wall structure, an upright frame, vertically spaced rows of horizontally spaced tile supports carried on said frame, wall sections each comprising a plurality of horizontal courses of refractory tiles supported on said tile supports, said tiles having their upper and lower faces formed 'with projections and seats and the tiles being arranged with the projections and seats of tiles in abutting courses in intermeshing engagement, tile engaging elements on the tile supports, said tile engaging elements having anchoring engagement with tiles in some of the courses whereby the intermeshed tiles are held against displacement inwardly from the frame, said tile engaging elements being spaced apart from one another vertically to permit/inward withdrawal of the tiles engaged therewith after such tiles are lifted vertically out of intermeshing engagement with the subjacent tiles.

13. In a furnace wall structure, an upper tile anchoring member for a single tile column, an independent lower tile support and anchoring member spaced 'from said upper anchoring mem ber, an upper refractory tile engaging said upper tile anchoring member, a lower tile resting on and engaging said lower support and tile anchoring member, and a series of intermediate tiles interlocked with said upper and lower tiles and with each other.

Lotus n. HosBEIN.

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